• Question: Would it be possible for all the ice in Antartica to melt?

    Asked by SD1901 to James on 16 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      Hi SD1901,

      Yes, all the ice on Antarctica could melt. Antarctica has two ice sheets, East and West. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is about 5 million years old and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is about 33 million years old. They have grown and shrunk over time, but that is when they formed.

      Prior to 33 million years ago, there was probably only winter snow cover and some mountain glaciers on Antarctica. We also know some small dinosaurs lived there.

      With respect to climate change, it will take a couple of centuries to melt all of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and many thousands of years of warm temperaures to melt all of East Antarctica.

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